What is M&I?
M&I Fest is a fresh take on the traditional MICE trade show. With over 250 supplier tables, it is a perfect opportunity for the team at Miss London Concierge to discover new venues, fabulous destinations and create contacts for MICE in Europe and Globally.
Four days of networking, meetings and immersion into Moroccan culture, it was a week to remember. See what Sam got up to below, where she visited and what she learned along the way. Get in touch to find out more about MICE for your corporate group.
Arrival in Marrakech
Upon arrival to Marrakesh airport I was met by a lovely group (and the sunshine of course!) – we waited for others to arrive and all walked to our transport. It was a short drive in a minibus to the Movenpick hotel. It was wonderful walking up to the hotel, seeing the M&I Fest sign and talking to fellow event professionals as I walked into the lobby.
After a little queue to check in I was handed my room key and escorted to a beautiful suite. The bedroom is almost like an apartment with two bathrooms and office space, a living room, a terrace and plenty of space, so I began to hang up my clothes and unpack. I then decided to take a little walk around the hotel resort which is, to say the least, expansive. I didn’t get far before the blue of the swimming pool and the tranquility beckoned (not to mention the peacocks!) me to a little bar where I sat and took stock of my surroundings.
La Mamounia
I headed back to my bedroom where I got ready for what would be a very special evening to kick off M&I Fest. We met at the lobby, an intimate group who were ready to go to La Mamounia. A place of luxury in every sense of the word, this hotel is, quite literally a palace. The standard rooms had views over the Atlas Mountains, the terraces and swimming pool and were all decorated in a traditional style, yet paired with luxury. We visited the suites as well as the riads in the centre of the complex.
This venue was incredibly special to see and witness in person – a venue that brings together, culture, tradition, service, design and luxury under one roof. Possibly one of my favourite venues that I visited that would be ideal for in Marrakech. We were treated to a magnificent dinner and tried The very best of Moroccan cuisine; from a beef soup with caramelised treats to perfectly cooked spiced Seabass, followed by lamb and all washed down with Rabat wine which is actually made by the hotel itself.
I couldn’t have had a better welcome to Marrakesh and M&I Fest than witnessing this historic and standout venue. I returned to my room (very full!) to prepare for a day of meetings the following day.
Buyer/Seller
On the first day of the buyer/seller meetings I walked into the Palais de Congress and was blown away by the high ceilings and the expansiveness, but, of course there were 600 people attending this event so expected to see an open space.
The selection process before the event was intense, and it’s really important for us to choose the venues and providers that we speak to, in order to really benefit from these kind of events. The organisers had created an app which told us what table we needed to be at and one for a 15 minute meetings with five minutes in between to go to the next. We also had half a day of meetings on both day two and day three of the event as well as an insightful talk at the end of Day one.
Overall, the meetings I had were extremely relevant. I could honestly say that around 70% of the providers I met with were new venues, new mergers, acquisitions, renovations and refurbishments. It was so exciting to talk this through, and to understand a little bit about the different brands, and how they all work together. Of course there are a few standout venues and standout contacts and connections that I made but it was also nice to catch up and spend time with London and UK venues that we already worked quite closely with.
Opening night
On the Monday evening, we all got ready to head off to a spectacular first opening night. We boarded the buses on a short journey to the country club where we are welcomed with a glass of champagne, music and world-class entertainment.
The Beldi Country Club was a stunning venue that could cater perfectly for large events using all the spaces – as they did for our evening there. The gardens were used for the welcome drink and canapés, while fire throwers and dancers entertained the group.
Upon making our way inside, we were greeted with a wonderful selection of hot buffet food in a room that was laid out perfectly for a standing/seated event. At the other end of this great space was a hall with a stage ready for the band to play – which they did and everyone was on their feet.
It is so nice for us to be on the receiving end of these kind of events and experience it firsthand from the side and point of view of a client. This also allows us to really appreciate how providers grab guests’ attention with the right kind of venue, providers, and catering.
Pathways
After another successful morning of meetings on day two, we all prepared ourselves for our pathways. The pathways are a choice of different activities that provide an immersion into the culture of Marrakesh, and I was lucky enough to take part in the quad, biking and buggies across the desert. We geared up, were taught the ropes and then we were on our way speeding through the sand and enjoying the expansive desert before us. We were welcomed into a small home for traditional Moroccan pancakes and tea before we set out again, cruising along the paths back to where we started. It was an unforgettable experience and something I truly recommend for any corporates organising incentives in Marrakesh.
Akira Black
Dinner that evening was held at Akira Back, on top of the Pestaña hotel, a five minute walk from the Movenpick. Again, we were treated to an evening of spectacular entertainment including dancers and a DJ, as well as exceptional food. The rooftop offered spectacular views of Marrakesh and we were once again offered the opportunity to organically network with fellow industry peers.
A gala farewell
As the final day of meetings came to a close, we were given time to relax before getting ready for the final gala evening. Organised by the incredible Shem DMC team, an incredible evening was ahead of us. We boarded busses and headed out into the Afgar Desert. Down many windy and quite difficult roads(!) we came to a stop at an entrance to a sand dune. Entering the area was a show in itself: men and women in traditional dress, dancers, musicians and even bell ringers were all lined up to greet us as we meandered up the dune to the venue. An open pool and bar area hosted the group for a beautiful drinks reception as the sun set behind the horizon of the desert. The view couldn’t have been more spectacular.
After that, we made our way back down the other side of the dune to a marquee that was erected for the event, boasting hundreds of round tables and a stage, all set for a wonderful evening of cuisine, speeches and good company. The evening did not end there and the band started to play, followed by a DJ and fire shows. It was truly memorable.
I would like to say a huge thank you to the M&I teams who looked after us throughout our stay and ensured we all got the most out of this opportunity. A big thank you as well to Shems DMC, a dedicated group of professionals who were on hand to guide and assist us at every opportunity.
If you would like to know more about Marrakesh as a MICE destination, get in touch with us today.
Start your venue finding journey with events professionals that source venues, make industry contacts and nurture relationships to bring you the very latest in industry news and competitive prices thanks to our contacts in the events world.